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Psalms 9:12 — Word Study

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WLCכִּֽי־ דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר לֹֽא־ שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת עֲנָוִֽים׃

BSAto singzâmar The LordYᵉhôvâh to dwellyâshab ZionTsîyôwn to tellnâgad Amawʻam wantonnessʻălîylâh

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (a.ni.yim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 9:12quick helps
In a sentenceGod, the Avenger of bloodshed, remembers the cries of the afflicted.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on God's justice.
Where we areA psalm of praise, expressing confidence in God's justice.
The hard wordזָכָ֑ר
Take awayGod hears the cries of the oppressed and does not forget them.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלְ The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 9:12

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — God Remembers the Afflictedgenerated

11Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; proclaim His deeds among the nations.
12For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
13Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death,
14that I may declare all Your praises— that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalms 9:12 speaks to the assurance that God, as the Avenger of bloodshed, is attentive to the cries of those who suffer. This psalm emphasizes God's role as a just judge who does not overlook injustice but actively responds to the pleas of the humble and oppressed. The surrounding verses highlight the psalmist's call to praise God for His deeds and mercy, reinforcing the theme of divine justice throughout the psalm.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 9:5And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
22 Kings 24:4and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.
3Isaiah 26:21For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
4Matthew 23:35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
5Luke 11:50–51As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word זָכָ֑ר, za.Khargenerated

The Hebrew word זָכַר (zakar) means 'to remember' and is built from a primitive root implying recognition. It encompasses the act of recalling or marking something significant, such as God's remembrance of His covenant with His people.

In this verse, the use of זָכַר indicates that God actively keeps in mind the plight of the afflicted. This is not a passive memory; rather, it suggests an ongoing awareness that leads to action, particularly in the context of seeking justice.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb governing the verse is זָכָ֑ר, he has remembered, with several phrases hanging off it: a participial phrase that describes the subject, an object noun phrase, and an adverbial negation that modifies the verb.

The structure indicates a clear focus on God's action — remembering the bloodshed — while the subsequent phrases emphasize the object of His remembrance and the assurance that He does not forget the cries of the afflicted.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word ἀναγγείλατε to translate זָכַר, which can mean 'to announce' or 'to proclaim.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of God's remembrance as an active declaration of justice.

This translation highlights the relationship between God's remembrance and His actions in response to the cries of the afflicted, indicating that remembering leads to justice being served.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalms 9:12 assures us that God, who avenges bloodshed, remembers the cries of the afflicted. This means that He does not ignore the pleas of those who are humble and suffering. The psalm emphasizes God's justice and His attentiveness to those in need.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God remembers?

In this context, God's remembrance signifies His active awareness and commitment to justice, particularly for those who are suffering or oppressed.

Who are the afflicted mentioned in this verse?

The afflicted refers to those who are humble, poor, or oppressed, indicating a state of vulnerability and need for divine intervention.

How does this verse relate to God's justice?

This verse emphasizes that God is not indifferent to injustice; rather, He actively remembers and responds to the cries of those who suffer, ensuring that justice is served.

What is the significance of bloodshed in this verse?

Bloodshed symbolizes violence and injustice, and the verse underscores that God remembers those affected by such acts, reinforcing His role as a just Avenger.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen God's justice in my life or in the world around me?
  2. How can I be more aware of the cries of the afflicted in my community?
  3. What actions can I take to support those who are suffering or oppressed?
  4. How does understanding God's remembrance of the afflicted change my perspective on justice?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss God's justice and the remembrance of martyrs, emphasizing that no act of violence goes unpunished.

IrenaeusAGAINST HERESIES 3:18.5 c. 130–202
Some … have proceeded to such a degree of temerity that they pour contempt on the martyrs and vituperate those who are slain on account of the confession of the Lord,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 9 →
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE Psalms 9:6 c. 347–407
He also touches on an important truth here: there is no murder committed that goes unpunished and is not fully avenged. Moses indicates as much in Genesis in the words “I will avenge your blood.” This is proof of God’s boundless…
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 9 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 9 354–430
"For requiring their blood He has remembered" [Psalms 9:12]. As if they, who were sent to preach the Gospel, should make answer to that injunction which has been mentioned,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 9:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

When he maketh inquisition for blood,.... The Arabic version renders it, "he remembers him that seeks their blood"; that is, the wicked man, that lies in wait for innocent blood, and whose feet are

Read John Gill on Psalms 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For blood, Heb. bloods; the bloodshed or murder of his innocent and holy ones; which though he may connive at for a season, yet he will certainly call the authors of it to a very severe account, and avenge it upon them. He remembereth them; either, 1. The humble, as it follows, or the oppressed, , that trust in him, and seek to him, , whom he seemed to have forgotten. Or, 2. The bloods last mentioned, for that noun and this pronoun are both of the masculine gender; and then remembering is put for revenging or punishing, as it is ,19 Ne 6:14 44:21, and oft elsewhere. The humble, or meek, as this word, which is used also , is translated , who do not, and cannot, and will not avenge…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 9:12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.Ver. 12. When he maketh inquisition for blood] For innocent blood unjustly spilled; as he did for the blood of Abel, Genesis 4:10, of Naboth, (2 Kings 9:26, "Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth." Murder ever bleeds fresh in the eyes of God) of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, 2 Chronicles 24:22; those ungrateful guests, who slew those that came to call them: "And when the king heard it" (for blood cries aloud), "he was wroth, and destroyed those murderers," Matthew 22:6-7. These shall have blood to drink, for they are worthy, Revelation 16:6. God draws articles of…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) When.—Better, for he maketh inquisition; literally, the seeker of bloods: i.e., “the avenger of blood.” The allusion is to the goel, the nearest relative of the murdered man, who must, according to Oriental custom, avenge him. The verbs are better in the past, “remembered,” “forgot not.” Them—i.e., the sufferers to be mentioned now. Humble.—This follows the Hebrew margin. Better here, the afflicted. In the Hebrew the two readings give two forms from the same root, generally taken to have, one of them, an ethical, the other, a physical sense; but the distinction is not borne out by Biblical use.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. When he maketh inquisition for blood] This not only applies to the Canaanites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Philistines, who shed the blood of God's people unjustly, but to all the nations of the earth who, to enlarge their territory, increase their wealth, or extend their commerce, have made destructive wars. For the blood which such nations have shed, their blood shall be shed. If man should make no inquisition for this iniquitously spilt blood, GOD will do it, for he remembers them; and the cry of the humbled, distressed people, driven to distraction and ruin by such wars, is not forgotten before him.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. For he that maketh requisition for bloodshed hath remembered them: He hath not forgotten the cry of the humble. The call to praise is based on a definite experience (hath remembered, hath not forgotten), rather than on a general truth (remembereth, forgetteth not). Jehovah is the Goel, the Avenger of blood, who investigates all offences against His sacred gift of human life, and demands satisfaction for them (Genesis 9:5 f.). Such offences ‘cry’ to God for vengeance (Genesis 4:10). ‘Bloodshed’ may include crimes of violence which fall short of actual murder, but rob men of the rightful use and enjoyment of their lives. Cf. Job 24:2 ff. them] The oppressed seekers of Jehovah mentioned in…

Read Cambridge on Psalms 9 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When he maketh inquisition for blood - When he “inquires” after blood; that is, when he comes forth with this view, to wit, for purposes of punishment.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 9 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For he who avenges blood remembers them. He doesn’t forget the cry of the afflicted.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed; he did not overlook their cry for help

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the poor.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the poor.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For whe he maketh inquisition for blood, hee remembreth it, and forgetteth not the complaint of the poore.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them; the cry of the afflicted ones hath he not forgotten.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For He who is seeking for blood Them hath remembered, He hath not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For He who is seeking for blood || Has remembered them, || He has not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(9:13) For he, that inquireth after acts of blood, hath remembered them: he hath not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For the God who avenges bloodshed remembers; he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: declare his ways among the Gentiles:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He does not forget to punish murderers; he does not ignore the cries of the suffering.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

When he makes search for blood, he has them in his memory: he is not without thought for the cry of the poor.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

כִּֽי(dm)clausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbדֹרֵ֣שׁ[one.who].seeksobjectדָּ֭מִיםblood(s)noun phrase · objectאוֹתָ֣םthemverbזָכָ֑רhe.has.rememberedclauseadverbialלֹֽאnotverbשָׁ֝כַ֗חhe.has.forgottennoun phrase · objectצַעֲקַ֥ת[the].cry.of.distressעֲנָוִֽיםof.humble.[people]

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with eight of the nine words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment includes seven words from the verse, with one word partially restored and six supplied by an editor, indicating a high degree of textual consistency.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

כִּֽי־ דֹרֵ֣שׁ דָּ֭מִים אוֹתָ֣ם זָכָ֑ר לֹֽא־ שָׁ֝כַ֗ח צַעֲקַ֥ת עֲנָוִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּֽי־ψάλατεדֹרֵ֣שׁτῷדָּ֭מִיםκυρίῳאוֹתָ֣םσιωνזָכָ֑רἀναγγείλατεלֹֽא־ἐνשָׁ֝כַ֗חἔθνεσινעֲנָוִֽים׃αὐτοῦ

8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 5/6hev1ba copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

זמרו [ליהוה] [ישב] [ציון] [הגידו] [בעמים] [עלילותי׳ו]

7 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 9:12כִּיforforכִּידָּרַשׁ[one who] s[one who] seeksדָּרַשׁדָּםbloodbloodדָּםאֵתthe object the object markאֵתזָכַרhe has remehe has rememberזָכַרלֹאnotnotלֹאשָׁכַחhe has forghe has forgotteשָׁכַחצְעָקָה[the] cry o[the] cry of diצְעָקָהעָנָוhumble [peohumble [people]עָנָודָּמַםto silenceto silence: staדָּמַםאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתזָכָרmalemaleזָכָרצָעַקto cryto cryצָעַקעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהעָנִיafflictedafflictedעָנִייָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעבַּעַלבַּעַללֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבזָרַקto scatterto scatterזָרַקנָקִיinnocentinnocentנָקִימִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁעָוֹןiniquity: iniquity: crimeעָוֹןבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחיְלָלָהwailingwailingיְלָלָה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Psalms 9:12

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTc — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
דֹרֵ֣שׁdo.Resh [one who] seeks H1875 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To seek or ask is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe seeking God or worshiping him. It can also mean to investigate or enquire about something.
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּרַשׁ (darash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or inquire. It encompasses a range of actions from frequenting a place to consulting deities in prayer and worship. The word can imply a diligent search or demand, and it appears in both Qal and Niphal forms, indicating various nuances of seeking and being sought. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּרַשׁ 162 vb. resort to, seek

Qal

(tread a place,) resort to, frequent

seek, consult, inquire of

seek deity in prayer and worship

seek, with idea of demanding, require

inquire, investigate (a matter)

ask for, require, demand

seek with application, study, follow, practise

seek with care, care for

Niph.

let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of God

be sought out

be required, of blood

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1875 דָּרַשׁ resort to, seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1875 darash daw-rash'

a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to

follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or

ask; specifically to worship:--ask, X at all, care for, X

diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-)mancer,

question, require, search, seek (for, out), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּרַשׁ (da.rash) — to seek.

1) to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to resort to, frequent (a place), (tread a place)

1a2) to consult, enquire of, seek

1a2a) of God

1a2b) of heathen gods, necromancers

1a3) to seek deity in prayer and worship

1a3a) God

1a3b) heathen deities

1a4) to seek (with a demand), demand, require

1a5) to investigate, enquire

1a6) to ask for, require, demand

1a7) to practice, study, follow, seek with application

1a8) to seek with care, care for

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to allow oneself to be enquired of, consulted (only of God)

1b2) to be sought, be sought out

1b3) to be required (of blood)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
דָּ֭מִיםDa.mim blood H1818 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
360× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Tyndale gloss
blood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּם (dam) means 'blood' and refers to the blood of both humans and animals. It is often associated with death, particularly when shed, and can also figuratively denote the juice of grapes or bloodshed. The term carries religious significance and is used in various contexts, including references to guilt and innocence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּם 300 n.m. blood

blood of man or animal

usually blood become visible

blood used with religious significance

fig. of wine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1818 דָּם blood

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1818 dam dawm

from 1826 (compare 119); blood (as that which when shed

causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of

the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed

(i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), +

innocent.

see HEBREW for 01826

see HEBREW for 0119

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּם (dam) — blood.

1) blood

1a) of wine (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

blud (dam, probably from 'adham "to be red"; haima): Used in the Old Testament to designate the life principle in either animal or vegetable, as the blood of man or the juice of the grape (Le 17:11, et al.); in the New Testament for the blood of an animal, the atoning blood of Christ, and in both Old Testament and New Testament in a figurative sense for bloodshed or murder (Ge 37:26; Ho 4:2; Re 16:6).

1. Primitive Ideas:

Although the real function of the blood in the human system was not fully known until the fact of its circulation was established by William Harvey in 1615, nevertheless from the earliest times a singular mystery has been attached to it by all peoples. Blood…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Blood

(1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 14:32-34).

(2.) The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

To blood is ascribed in Scripture the mysterious sacredness which belongs to life, and God reserved it to himself when allowing man the dominion over and the use of the lower animals for food. Thus reserved, it acquires a double power: (1) that of sacrificial atonement; and (2) that of becoming a curse when wantonly shed, unless duly expiated. (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:26; 17:11-13)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The life of all animals was regarded as especially in the blood, which was a sacred and essential part of the sacrifices offered to God, Heb 9:22. It was solemnly sprinkled upon the altar and the mercy seat, "for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul," Le 17:1-16 the life of the victim for the life of the sinner. It was therefore most sacredly associated with the blood of the Lamb of God which "cleanseth us from all sin," Eph 1:7 1Jo 1:7. Hence the strict prohibition renewed in Ac 15:29. In direct opposition to this are the heathen customs of drinking the blood of animals and even of men- of eating raw flesh, with the blood, and even fresh cut from the living…

for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
אוֹתָ֣ם'o.Tam the object marker them H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo/Sp3mp — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
זָכָ֑רza.Khar he has remembered H2142 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
232× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To remember means to recall or mark something, like God remembering his covenant with Abraham in Genesis 9:1 and Exodus 2:24.
Tyndale gloss
to remember
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word זָכַר (zakar) means 'to remember' and is built from a primitive root implying recognition. It covers a range of meanings, including recalling thoughts, commemorating days, and causing others to remember. The entries also note its use in various grammatical forms, such as being remembered or making a memorial.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָכַר vb. remember

Qal

Human subj.

remember, recall, call to mind, usu. as affecting present feeling, thought or action

remember persons (human subj.)

remember י׳

remember

think of or on, call to mind something present or future

remember a day, to observe, commemorate it

remember, with implied mention of, obj.

Subj. י׳ (אלהִם)

remember persons

remember the distress of his servants

their devotion

remember his own covenant (with them)

his mercy

extenuating circumstances

remember sins, idolatries

Niph.

be brought to remembrance, remembered, thought of, usu. c. neg.

neg. be not remembered = no longer exist, of name of Israel, as nation

be remembered, of particular days, in order to be observed, commemorated

Hiph.

cause to remember, remind

cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

mention

record, only pt.

of sacrifice, make a memorial

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2142 זָכַר remember .. Human subj. . remember, recall, call to mind, usu. as affecting present feeling, thought or action

. remember persons (human subj.)

. remember י׳

. remember

. think of or on, call to mind something present or future

. remember a day, to observe, commemorate it

. remember, with implied mention of, obj.

. Subj. י׳ (אלהִם) . remember persons

. . remember the distress of his servants

. their devotion

. . remember his own covenant (with them)

. his mercy

. extenuating circumstances

. remember sins, idolatries

. . be brought to remembrance, remembered, thought of, usu. c. neg.

. neg. be not remembered = no longer exist, of name of Israel, as nation

. be remembered, of particular days, in order to be observed, commemorated

. . cause to remember, remind

. cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

. mention

. record, only pt.

. of sacrifice, make a memorial

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2142 zakar zaw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized),

i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as

denominative from 2145) to be male:--X burn (incense), X

earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount,

record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call,

come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, X still, think on, X

well.

see HEBREW for 02145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָכַר (za.khar) — to remember.

1) to remember, recall, call to mind

1a) (Qal) to remember, recall

1b) (Niphal) to be brought to remembrance, be remembered, be thought of, be brought to mind

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to remember, remind

1c2) to cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

1c3) to mention

1c4) to record

1c5) to make a memorial, make remembrance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
לֹֽא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTn — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
שָׁ֝כַ֗חSha.Khach he has forgotten H7911 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Tyndale gloss
to forget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget

Qal 86 forget

Niph. be forgotten

Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget

Hiph. to make my people forget my name

Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7911 שָׁכַח forget

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7911 shakach shaw-kakh'

or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,

i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X

at all, (cause to) forget.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.

1) to forget, ignore, wither

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to forget

1a2) to cease to care

1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten

1c) (Piel) to cause to forget

1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget

1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten

Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
צַעֲקַ֥תtza.'a.Kat [the] cry of distress of H6818 Noun common · feminine singular construct
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A cry or outcry is what this word represents, often a cry of distress that reaches God's ears, as seen in Exodus where the Israelites cry out against slavery.
Tyndale gloss
cry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צְעָקָה (tsa`aqah) refers to a cry or outcry, often associated with distress. It is derived from the root word for a shriek, indicating a strong emotional expression. The term encompasses both general cries and specific outcries against injustice, particularly those that are heard by God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צְעָקָה n.f. cry, outcry

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6818 צְעָקָה, צַעֲקָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6818 tsa`aqah tsah-ak-aw'

from 6817; a shriek:--cry(-ing).

see HEBREW for 06817

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צְעָקָה (tsa.a.qah) — cry.

1) cry, outcry

1a) outcry (against)

1b) cry of distress (especially as heard by God)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

for [one who] seeks blood the object marker them he has remembered not he has forgotten [the] cry of distress of humble [people]
עֲנָוִֽים׃a.ni.yim humble [people] H6035
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be poor or humble, often describing someone who is meek or weak. In the Bible, it can also mean to be afflicted or lowly, as seen in Matthew 5:5.
Tyndale gloss
poor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנָו (anav) refers to a state of being poor, afflicted, humble, or meek. It is built from the root associated with being depressed in mind or circumstances, particularly in a saintly context. The term encompasses a range of meanings related to humility and neediness, as highlighted in various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָנָו n.m. poor, afflicted, humble, meek

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6035 עָנָו poor, afflicted, humble, meek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6035 `anav aw-nawv'

or (by intermixture with 6041) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from 6031;

depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances

(needy, especially saintly):--humble, lowly, meek, poor.

Compare 6041.

see HEBREW for 06041

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06041

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנָו (a.nav) — poor.

1) poor, humble, afflicted, meek

1a) poor, needy

1b) poor and weak

1c) poor, weak and afflicted

1d) humble, lowly, meek

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAampa
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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